Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Young Children in Cape Town
Author Information
Author(s): Mary-Ann Davies, Andrew Boulle, Tanzeem Fakir, James Nuttall, Brian Eley
Primary Institution: University of Cape Town
Hypothesis
Can different measures of adherence effectively detect lapses in ART among infants and young children?
Conclusion
Excellent adherence to ART is possible in African infants and young children, and medication return is a strong predictor of viral response.
Supporting Evidence
- 94% of children returned medication at least once.
- 79% of children achieved annual average adherence ≥ 90%.
- Caregivers reported difficulties with medication, mainly due to poor palatability.
Takeaway
This study shows that many young children in South Africa can take their HIV medicine correctly, which helps them stay healthy.
Methodology
A prospective cohort study measuring adherence through medication return and caregiver self-report over one year.
Potential Biases
Caregivers may overestimate adherence due to social desirability bias.
Limitations
The study may not represent current adherence levels as it was conducted during a specific period with unique circumstances.
Participant Demographics
Children were HIV-infected, with a median age of 37 months; most caregivers had secondary education.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.075
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.8–35.6
Statistical Significance
p = 0.075
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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